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Ohio  State  University 
Bulletin 


Agricultural  Extension  Work 


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Published  by  the  University  'at  Columbus 
Entered  as  second-class  matter  November  17,  1905,  at  the  post- 
affice  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  under  Act  of  Congress,  July  16,  1894. 


Making  uce  of  the  Farmers’  and  Home  Makers’  Reading  Course  bulletins. 


Agricultural  Extension  Work 

Introductory  Statement 

This  bulletin  has  been  prepared  to  give  information  concerning 
the  different  forms  of  agricultural  extension  work  conducted  by 
the  College  of  Agriculture  of  the  Ohio  State  University  at  Colum- 
bus. Applications  for  any  of  these  forms  of  extension  work  and 
correspondence  regarding  them  should  be  addressed  to  A.  B.  Gra- 
ham, Superintendent  of  Agricultural  Extension,  College  of  Agri- 
culture, Columbus,  Ohio. 

THE  LAW  RELATING  TO  AGRICULTURAL  EXTENSION 
WORK 

Sec.  7973.  The  College  of  Agriculture  and  Domestic  Science 
of  the  University  shall  arrange  for  the  extension  of  its  teachings 
throughout  the  state,  and  hold  schools  in  which  instruction  shall 
be  given  in  soil  fertility,  stock  raising,  crop  production,  dairying, 
horticulture,  domestic  science,  and  kindred  subjects.  No  such 
school  shall  exceed  one  week  in  length,  and  not  more  than  one 
be  held  in  any  one  county  during  a year. 

Sec.  7974.  In  addition  to  the  holding  of  such  schools,  such 
college  shall  give  instruction  and  demonstration  in  various  lines 
of  agriculture,  at  agricultural  fairs,  institutes,  granges,  clubs,  or  in 
connection  with  any  other  organizations  that,  in  its  judgment, 
may  be  useful  in  extending  agricultural  knowledge.  The  work  in 
extension  may  also  include  instruction  by  mail  in  agricultural  and 
mechanical  arts,  and  the  publication  of  bulletins  designed  to  carry 
the  benefits  of  its  teaching  to  communities  remote  from  the  col- 
lege. Any  common  carrier  is  authorized  and  empowered  to  carry 
the  persons  employed  and  the  equipment  and  exhibits  used  in 
such  instruction  and  demonstrations,  free  or  at  reduced  rates. 

Forms  of  Agricultural  Extension  Work 

In  order  to  carry  the  teachings  of  the  College  of  Agriculture 
to  the  people  of  rural  communities  and  to  others  interested  in  agri- 
cultural industries,  the  following  kinds  of  extension  work  have 
been  conducted  during  the  past  year  and  will  be  arranged  for 
more  extensively  during  the  coming  year  : 

Agricultural  Extension  Schools. 

Demonstrations  in 

Spraying  Eruit  Trees. 

Pruning. 

Mixing  of  Commercial  Fertilizers. 

Field  Meetings. 

Agricultural  Trains. 

Fair  Exhibits. 


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Bulletins  : 

The  Agricultural  College  Extension  Bulletin. 

Home  Makers’  Reading  Course  Bulletin. 

Farmers’  Reading  Course  Bulletin. 

Identifications. 

Suggestions  for  Agricultural  Work  in  the  Rural  Schools. 
Personal  Visits  to  Agriculturists. 

Lectures  at  Institutes,  Granges,  Clubs  and  Other  Organizations. 

AGRICULTURAL  EXTENSION  SCHOOLS 

In  the  Agricultural  Extension  Schools  four  courses  will  be 
offered.  One  combination  may  be  selected  from  the  four  follow- 
ing: 


An  Agricultural  Extension  School  in  which  apparatus  used  during 
a soil  fertility  lecture  is  shown.  Learning  to  mix  a little  of  the  Why 
with  much  of  the  Hew.  These  men  have  farmed  for  years. 


(1)  Soil  Fertility,  Farm  Crops,  and  Live  Stock. 

(2)  Soil  Fertility,  Farm  Crops,  and  Dairying. 

(3)  Soil  Fertility,  Farm  Crops,  and  Horticulture. 

(4)  Soil  Fertility,  Horticulture,  and  Dairying. 

Soil  Fertility: 

This  course  will  consist  of  a discussion  of  the  principles  under- 
lying the  maintenance  of  soil  fertility,  including  such  subjects  as 
food  requirements  of  plants,  the  use  and  effect  of  tillage,  drain- 
age, manures,  fertilizers,  lime,  etc. 

Farm  Crops: 

This  course  will  consist  of  a study  of  cereals  and  crop  rota- 
tions. Practice  work  will  be  given  in  grain  judging  and  seed 
selection. 


Live  Stock: 

The  work  in  this  subject  wHl  take  up  a discussion  of  the  types 
of  farm  animals  and  feeding  and  breeding  of  live  stock.  Practical 
instruction  will  be  given  in  stock  judging. 

Dairying : 

This  course  will  include  instruction  in  the  principles  of  dairy- 
ing, feeding  and  breeding  of  dairy  cattle,  barn  sanitation,  and  the 
care  of  milk. 

Horticulture: 

The  work  of  this  course  will  consist  of  instruction  in  the 
principles  of  fruit  and  vegetable  growing,  and  will  include  culti- 
vation, pruning,  spraying  and  marketing  of  horticultural  crops. 


A fifth  course  for  Home  Makers  will  be  given  in  the  Agri- 
cultural Extension  Schools.  This  course  will  include  instruction  in 
the  selection  and  preparation  of  foods,  sanitation,  decoration,  and 
other  subjects  of  importance  to  the  household.  Practical  demon- 
strations in  food  selection  and  preparation  will  be  given. 

University  Rules 

Rules  to  Govern  the  Holding  of  “Agricultural  Extension 
Schools,”  Adopted  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Ohio  State 
University,  April  8,  1909,  and  amended  July  18,  1910. 

1.  Schools  shall  be  held  at  points  designated  by  the  Board  of 

Trustees  of  the  Ohio  State  University  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Faculty  of  the  Agricultural  College. 

2.  Satisfactory  rooms  for  instruction  and  demonstration  shall  be 

provided  and  properly  cared  for  and  the  expenses  for  rent, 
heat,  light,  and  janitor  service  for  them,  and  all  other  local 
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expenses,  including  the  lodging  and  boarding  of  all  in- 
structors and  other  persons  assisting  them  shall  be  borne 
by  the  community  in  which  the  school  is  held. 

3.  Applications  for  schools  shall  be  made  on  a blank  form  fur- 

nished by  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  signed  by  not  less 
than  twenty-five  persons  who  shall  pledge  their  support  and 
guarantee  any  deficiency  that  may  arise  in  the  local  expenses 
of  the  school. 

4.  When  applications  are  granted,  a local  organization  shall  be 

perfected  which,  in  co-operation  with  the  Superintendent  of 
Agricultural  Extension,  shall  have  charge  of  all  local  ar- 
rangements for  holding  the  school. 


A SCHOOL  FOR  HOME-MAKERS. 

It  is  assumed  that  the  women  can  cook,  etc.  They  are  learning  more  of 
Why  that  they  may  know  the  better  How. 


Applications 

Applications  for  schools  shall  be  made  on  a blank  form  fur- 
nished by  the  Superintendent  of  Agricultural  Extension  and  signed 
by  not  less  than  twenty-five  persons  as  provided  in  the  rules 
above.  The  applications  for  schools  should  be  on  file  with  the 
Superintendent  of  Agricultural  Extension  by  July  1,  as  the  schedule 
of  schools  that  will  be  held  the  following  season  will  be  made  as 
soon  after  that  date  as  possible.  Any  applications  that  may  be 
made  after  July  1 will  only  be  considered  after  the  ones  previously 
filed  have  been  disposed  of. 


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Applicants  are  requested  to  give  as  definite  information  as 
possible  upon  the  application  blank  in  regard  to  the  rooms  that 
will  be  available  for  holding  the  school. 

Applications  for  demonstrations  in  spraying  fruit  trees,  prun- 
ing, mixing  of  commercial  fertilizers  shall  be  signed  by  at  least 
five  persons.  Blank  forms  for  applications  for  demonstrations 
can  be  secured  upon  request. 

Local  Organization 

The  object  of  forming  a local  organization  is  to  secure  satis- 
factory rooms  for  instruction  and  demonstration,  to  properly  ad- 


Township  h:gh  school  teachers  learning  to  judge  dairy  cattle  under  the 
direction  of  an  instructor  from  the  Extension  Department. 

vertise  the  school,  and  to  solicit  the  attendance  of  persons  who 
may  be  benefited ; that  appropriate  committees  may  be  organ- 
ized and  that  means  may  be  devised  for  raising  a fund  to  defray 
the  local  expenses.  It  is  suggested  that  the  following  committees 
be  appointed  : 

(1)  Finance  and  Local  Arrangement.  i 

(2)  Membership  and  Advertising. 

(3)  Demonstration  Material. 

The  Committee  on  Finance  and  Local  Arrangement  should 
secure  rooms  (one  for  the  Agricultural  School,  one  for  the  Home 
Makers’  School,  and  such  other  rooms  as  may  be  necessary  for 


demonstration  material,  such  as  cereals  and  live  stock)  and  see 
that  they  are  properly  heated,  seated  and  lighted ; further,  that 
tables,  trestles,  etc.,  are  furnished  and  that  the  rooms  are  prop- 
erly cared  for  by  a janitor  during  the  week  of  the  school. 

The  Committee  on  Membership  and  Advertising  should  look 
after  printing  and  the  securing  of  members  for  the  school.  It  is 
suggested  that  this  committee  be  made  up  of  sub-committees  ap- 
pointed to  represent  the  townships  and  villages  of  the  entire 
county  or  of  the  townships  and  villages  within  a radius  of  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  of  the  place  at  which  the  school  is  to  be  held.  If  a 
Home  Makers’  School  is  arranged  for,  a number  of  women  should 
be  appointed  on  these  sub-committees.  The  Committee  on  Mem- 
bership and  Advertising  will  be  furnished  with  blank  membership 
cards  and  with  material  and  suggestions  for  thoroughly  advertising 
the  school. 

The  Committee  on  Demonstration  Material  should  secure  live 
stock,  samples  of  cereals  and  such  other  material  as  may  be  re- 
quested for  use  in  judging.  They  should  also  furnish  other  mate- 
rial necessary  for  demonstration  purposes.  If  a Home  Makers’ 
Course  is  to  be  given,  at  least  one  woman  should  be  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  Demonstration  Material.  For  the  Home  Makers’  School 
it  will  be  necessary  to  furnish  a cook  stove  (gasoline  or  gas,  with 
oven),  two  kitchen  tables,  and  a small  quantity  of  groceries  to 
be  arranged  for  the  first  day  of  the  school.  The  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  Ohio  State  University  recommends  the  following: 

That  each  prospective  member  of  the  school  pay  to  the  treas- 
urer of  the  local  organization  a membership  fee  of  one  dollar 
($1.00),  the  money  thus  raised  to  be  used  for  defraying  local  ex- 
penses; that  no  school  be  held  where  fewer  than  fifty  member- 
ship fees  have  been  paid  by  bona-fide  members ; and  that  the 
receipted  membership  cards  be  filed  with  the  Agricultural  Ex- 
tension Department  ten  days  before  the  opening  of  the  school. 

It  is  suggested  that  after  the  local  expenses  of  the  school  have 
been  paid,  the  balance  on  hand  be  returned  pro  rata  to  those  who 
have  paid  weekly  membership  fees.  An  Agricultural  Extension 
School  should  not  be  conducted  with  a view  to  financing  some 
other  organization  or  meeting  which  follows  it.  No  part  of  the 
fee  suggested  goes  to  pay  for  the  services  of  any  instructor;  its 
use  should  be  only  to  defray  the  local  expenses  of  the  school. 

Expenses 

The  following  items  of  local  expense  will  need  to  be  provided 

for : 

Hotel  expenses  for  all  instructors  and  assistants  from  the  Col- 
lege of  Agriculture  for  the  week  during  which  the  Agricultural 

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Extension  School  is  held.  Where  an  Agricultural  School  and  a 
Home  Makers’  School  are  arranged  for,  there  will  usually  be  four 
men  and  two  women.  It  may  be  necessary  to  have  from  one  to 
three  additional  assistants.  This  department  believes  that  it  should 
expect  the  best  accommodations  that  the  prospective  financial  con- 
ditions of  the  school  will  warrant. 

Rent  of  an  assembly  room  for  the  Agricultural  School  and 


Learning  to  judge  live  stock  at  an  open  grange  meeting  under  the  direction  of  in- 
structors from  the  Extension  Department. 


one  for  the  Home  Makers’  School,  provided  the  last  named  school 
is  arranged  for,  and  other  comfortable  quarters  in  which  live  stock 
is  to  be  judged,  and  for  heat,  light,  and  janitor  service  for  the 
same. 

The  Agricultural  Extension  Department  pays  the  railroad  fare 
and  the  salary  of  instructors.  These  two  items  need  not  be  con- 
sidered by  the  local  committee.  Hack  fare,  livery,  and  baggage 
transfer  from  the  railway  station  to  the  point  where  the  school  is 


held  and  return  are  items  of  local  expense  to  be  cared  for  by  the 
school. 

Schedule 

The  sessions  will  begin  at  8:30  a.  m.  and  close  at  3:30  p.  m. 
standard  time,  unless  there  is  some  local  reason  for  opening  or 
closing  earlier  or  later. 

Each  period  for  instruction  will  be  fifty-five  minutes  in  length.. 
Five  minutes  intermission  will  be  given  between  periods.  An 
intermission  of  one  hour  will  be  given  at  noon.  The  sessions  will 
open  promptly  at  8:30  a.  m.  and  12:30  p.  m.  and  close  at  11:30 
a.  m.  and  3 :30  p.  m.  Since  the  opening  and  closing  times  are 
on  regular  school  hours  they  can  easily  be  kept  in  mind. 

OPEN  GRANGE  MEETINGS 

In  the  fall  before  the  Agricultural  Extension  Schools  open, 
and  in  the  spring  after  they  have  closed,  some  of  the  instructors 
from  this  Department  may  be  secured  by  grange  organizations  for 
the  discussion  of  agricultural  and  domestic  science  topics  before 
open  meetings.  These  instructors  will  visit  farms,  dairies, 
orchards,  etc.,  in  the  community  in  which  the  grange  is  located 
and  give  advice  and  answer  questions  on  drainage,  fertilizers,  cul- 
tivation, pruning  and  spraying,  crop  rotation,  etc.  The  meetings 
must  be  open  to  the  general  public.  The  Department  will  pay  for 
the  services  and  the  railroad  fare  of  the  instructors;  those  served 
will  be  expected  to  take  care  of  the  local  expenses.  Instructors 
will  be  sent  to  as  many  of  these  open  grange  meetings  as  funds 
will  permit. 

DEMONSTRATIONS 

A demonstration  that  very  closely  follows  or  that  accompanies 
instruction  oftentimes  makes  clear  what  would  otherwise  take 
many  pages  of  printed  material  or  much  time  for  oral  explanation. 
The  Department  of  Agricultural  Extension  is  prepared  to  make 
demonstrations  in  the  spraying  of  fruit  trees,  pruning,  and  in  the 
home  mixing  of  commercial  fertilizers.  To  see  the  spraying 

material  prepared  and  observe  how  it  is  applied  helps  one  to  estab- 
lish a confidence  in  himself.  To  know  how  to  prune  without 

practising  tree-butchery  should  help  the  amateur  fruit  grower  to 
assist  the  tree  to  produce  to  the  limit  of  its  ability.  With  a rea- 
sonable knowledge  of  spraying  and  pruning,  the  small  fruit  grower 
should  grow  fruit  equal  in  quality  to  that  produced  by  any  grower. 

A demonstration  in  the  home  mixing  of  fertilizers  will  be 

made  at  such  times  as  instructors  in  this  department  are  available 
for  this  work.  All  material  used  for  demonstration  purposes  must 
be  supplied  by  those  for  whom  the  work  is  done.  Application 


10 


An  orchard  demonstration  in  Southern  Ohio.  Apple  tree  before  pruning. 


An  orchard  demonstration  in  Southern  Ohio.  Apple  tree  after  being 

pruned. 


11 


blanks  for  any  of  these  demonstrations  can  be  secured  by  writ- 
ing the  Superintendent  of  Agricultural  Extension. 

FIELD  MEETINGS 

The  Department  of  Cooperative  Experiments  at  the  Agricul- 
tural Experiment  Station,  Wooster,  Ohio,  has  a great  many  per- 
sons conducting  tests  to  determine  the  best  varieties  of  farm 
crops.  In  connection  with  these  tests,  the  Department  of  Agri- 
cultural Extension  of  the  College  of  Agriculture,  Columbus,  is 
doing  what  it  can  in  the  way  of  conducting  field  meetings  for  one 
day  or  during  an  afternoon,  at  times  during  the  growing  season 
when  the  instruction  will  be  of  most  value.  These  meetings  may 
be  arranged  for  by  writing  the  Agricultural  Extension  Department 
of  the  College  of  Agriculture,  Columbus. 

AGRICULTURAL  TRAINS 

The  railroad  companies,  in  response  to  requests  from  the  grain 
dealers,  millers,  horticulturists,  and  dairymen  have  found  it  bene- 
ficial to  carry  instruction  to  patrons  along  their  respective  lines. 
This  Department  is  glad  to  cooperate  with  the  railroad  companies 
in  giving  instruction  adapted  to  the  sections  of  the  state  through 
which  the  trains  are  run.  Shippers  of  agricultural  products 
should  urge  the  railroad  companies  to  negotiate  with  this  Depart- 
ment for  instruction  along  their  lines. 

FAIR  EXHIBITS 

Any  fair  board  or  association  may  secure  upon  application  an 
exhibit  made  by  the  College  of  Agriculture  to  represent  each  of 
its  departments.  This  exhibit  is  composed  of  such  apparatus  and 
material  as  will  serve  two  purposes : first,  to  impress  lessons  in 
farm  and  school  improvement  from  contrast  by  maps,  charts,  pic- 
tures, etc. ; second,  to  teach  lessons  in  feeds  and  feeding,  the  bet- 
tering of  tillage  and  cultivation  methods,  the  improvement  of  de- 
sirable plants  and  the  control  of  undesirable  plants  and  insect 
pests,  by  apparatus  to  show  the  water  content  of  the  soil  and 
some  exhibits  to  show  the  life  history  and  habits  of  plants  and 
insects. 

BULLETINS 

During  the  past  six  years,  one  publication,  the  Agricultural 
College  Extension  Bulletin,  has  been  prepared  with  much  care  for 
the  public  school  teachers  and  the  children  of  the  upper  elementary 
grades  and  the  high  school.  This  free  publication  will  be  con- 
tinued for  the  same  class  of  readers.  Any  person  interested  in 
agricultural  education  may  have  his  name  placed  on  the  mailing 
list.  An  effort  has  been  to  have  every  member  of  the  township 


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Hearing  a lecture  on  corn  given  aboard  an  agricultural  special  train. 


13 


and  village  boards  of  education  receive  this  publication.  The 
February  number  is  devoted  to  some  public  school  subject  or  some 
phase  of  the  improvement  of  rural  life. 

Two  additional  bulletins  are  being  published  to  meet  the  de- 
mand for  agricultural  reading  courses.  One  of  these  is  known  as 
the  Farmers’  Reading  Course  Bulletin  and  the  other  as  the  Home 
Makers’  Reading  Course  Bulletin.  These  reading  course  bulletins 
will  be  sent  to  those  who  make  application  for  them  annually. 
The  Agricultural  Extension  Department  offers  its  services  to 
answer  questions  concerning  or  to  discuss  further,  subjects  re- 
quiring a more  lengthy  discussion  than  the  space  in  the  bulletins 
will  allow’. 


A lesson  in  corn  judging  at  an  Agricultural  Extension  School. 
Plenty  of  tables  and  good  light.  A large  enrollment  of  middle  aged 
and  old  men.  Young  men,  of  course. 


IDENTIFICATIONS 

Some  of  the  most  common  insects  and  plants  referred  to  by 
their  proper  names  in  the  bulletins  or  other  publications  are  fre- 
quently passed  in  the  field  or  by  the  roadside  without  recognition. 
The  Department  of  Agricultural  Extension  offers  the  services  of 
specialists  to  name  such  specimens  as  may  be  sent  to  its  offices. 
Whenever  it  is  possible,  some  habit  or  characteristic  of  the  speci- 
men will  be  given.  The  specimens  will  not  be  returned  unless 
such  a request  is  made. 

AGRICULTURE  IN  THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 

With  the  passage  of  the  bill  providing  for  the  introduction  of 
agriculture  in  the  rural  schools  the  work  of  planning  courses  and 
giving  suggestions  in  regard  to  the  teaching  of  agriculture  is  no 


longer  tinder  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Extension  Department.  How- 
ever, this  Department  will  continue  to  give  scientific  instruction 
in  agriculture  whenever  requested  by  teachers,  boards  of  education, 
or  school  superintendents.  The  services  of  instructors  from  this 
Department  may  be  secured  by  request  for  a discussion  of  agri- 
cultural subjects  at  farmers’  and  teachers’  institutes,  granges,  clubs 
and  other  organizations. 

PERSONAL  VISITS  TO  AGRICULTURISTS 

During  the  time  when  no  Agricultural  Extension  Schools  are 
being  conducted  or  demonstrations  being  made,  arrangements  may 


A class  of  township  high  school  girls  receiving  a lesson  in  sewing  under 
the  direction  of  one  of  the  high  school  teachers. 

be  made  with  the  different  instructors  in  this  department  to  visit 
farms,  dairies,  live  stock  farms,  orchards,  and  gardens  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  individual  instruction  in  up-to-date  agricultural 
practices.  This  department  does  not  offer  the  services  of  its  in- 
structors to  pass  judgment  upon  commercial  propositions. 

The  Department  of  Agricultural  Extension  is  organized  to 
give  instruction  and  no  pains  will  be  spared  to  arouse  a greater 
degree  of  interest  in  the  improvement  of  every  form  of  life  in  the 
country,  whether  it  be  industrial  or  social. 

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Suggestions  for  advertising  Agricultural  Extension  Schools. 


